Tsunami Preparedness in the Indian Ocean Continues to Progress

With enthusiastic responses from 21 Member States of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS), the Capacity Assessment of Tsunami Preparedness Status Report 2018 highlighted considerable progress across all components of the IOTWMS, including the operational tsunami service framework in the Indian Ocean comprising of three Tsunami Service Providers (Australia, India, Indonesia) and National Tsunami Warning Centres of 25 Member States.

Substantive progress has also been made in developing risk assessment guidelines, enhancing monitoring networks, organizing biennial tsunami drills and creating public awareness material. Tsunami response capacities continue to be enhanced through regional capacity development workshops focused on the development of tsunami evacuation maps, plans and standard operating procedures, as well as the recent piloting of the Tsunami Ready community recognition programme.

Nonetheless, the IOTWMS is not a static system but must improve, evolve and adapt to serve the needs of its Member States. In this context, the 2018 assessment identified capacity gaps and future support requirements in the broad areas of a) policies, plans and guidelines; b) risk assessment and reduction; c) detection, warning and dissemination; and d) awareness preparedness and response. The detailed Capacity Assessment of Tsunami Preparedness Status Report 2018,  together with the responses of Member States, as well as a succinct Executive Summary, has been prepared for a wide communication with all stakeholders.

The 2018 assessment was conducted through an online survey more than 13 years after the initial assessment of the state of tsunami preparedness in Indian Ocean countries following the Boxing Day tsunami (IOC/INF-1219), which provided critical inputs to the eventual design and development of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS).

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